Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270141
SECTION: BOOK PAGE: F6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: REVIEWED BY LYNN ERWIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Televisions, popsicles, rockets, tufted bedspreads and water skis. American kids have been busy over the past couple of hundred years thinking up and building gadgets that have touched all our lives.
How about Ralph Samuelson who invented water skis in 1921? After several failures with snow skis, barrel staves and pine boards, he not only perfected the water ski, but also invented the sport.
Fifteen-year-old Jerrald Spencer blew up his family's garage while conducting a chemistry experiment in the 1980s. With the encouragement of his mom, Jerrald turned to electricity and magnets, and came up with "Light Show," a device that has been sold in more than 5 million sparkling toys.
Such old favorites as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison are mentioned, as well as unknown historical figures like Mattie Knight, who was granted a patent for her square bottom paper grocery bag, still in use today.
"Brainstorm" is full of inspiration for the middle school crowd. Each chapter focuses on a youthful inventor and would make an excellent read-aloud in science or history classes. There is also a bibliography on each of the inventors and a chapter that shows how to apply for a patent.
Lynn Erwin is a librarian at Hollins College.
by CNB